The Darkest Part of Me

The Darkest Part of Me

Everyone needs someone in their life who understands them. If family can’t be there, then a friend or spouse will suffice. Being without someone to confide in can make a person’s life feel depressing and lonely. Without anyone to watch another’s actions then a person can fall into grave sins and false beliefs that can drastically affect their lives and souls. Fresco is a man who hardly has anyone close to him.

He chooses his faith in God over everything else and as a result, he is abandoned by his family and past friends. His daily prayers include asking for a friend since he has no one in his life to fill the hole left by their abandonment. Today, his prayers may be answered. For the past couple of days, he’s been talking to another man from his parish that leads the fraternity. His name is Rossoro and he helps the men in the parish talk about their problems and gives them advice in line with the faith. Fresco has been able to talk to Rossoro more than the other men. Because of this, Fresco believes them to be friends.

After one meeting, Fresco asks Rossoro, “Can I have a one-on-one meeting? I’m struggling with a lot of things and would like a friend to personally listen to me.”

“Of course. Can we do this Friday night? My week is booked at the moment.”

“Yes! Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

Fresco waits six days for the meeting with Rossoro. They meet at Fresco’s house for the meeting. His house is very small and contains lots of Catholic statues and images. On the table the two are sitting at is some coffee and desserts bought from a nearby Italian bakery.

“The outside of your house is deceiving for how great you’ve made the interior look,” Rossoro says.

“Thank you. I’m sure your house looks even better.”

“Actually, my house doesn’t have half the pictures and statues that you have. It’s barren compared to yours.”

“Oh.”

“So, you needed my help with something?”

“Yes. You see, I don’t really have anyone to talk to and would like your advice on my problems.”

“Okay. Tell me what they are, and I’ll give you the best advice I have.”

“Well, it’s kind of hard to explain, but it’s like this…”

Fresco’s face morphs and splits into two faces. One is frowning while the other is smiling.

“What the…” Rossoro says in shock.

With three mouths, Fresco says, “I’ve been a liar for most of my life. It’s how I’ve been able to work a simple job, buy everything here, and live fairly comfortably. I cheated everyone I knew out of at least a little of their money.”

“A liar, huh? Is this why you didn’t specify what you were going through when you first said that you needed help?”

“No, it’s just that-”

“Well, uh…I can’t help you with this. Maybe one of the other guys can. Um, I gotta go now.”

“Wait, hold on!”

Rossoro hastily walks out Fresco’s door only to go back into the house as if the door leads to a mirror version of it.

“What the? I know this condition that you have. I can’t help you with it.”

“Yes, you can! You help lots of people like me in our group.”

“I hope I do, but I can’t help you.”

“Of course you can! At least share with me your experiences of being separated from your family and friends like I was. You can relate to me on that.”

“No, I can’t.”

A mouth opens beneath Rossoro and he falls into a room full of eyes all which stare at him in anticipation. Rossoro tries to climb out of the room of eyes, but he keeps slipping back down.

“What about all that encouraging advice and words that you bring to all the meetings, Rossoro? Can’t you give me any of that?”

“Look, I just looked it up. Hardly any of it was original.”

“Okay, but you still helped people with it.”

“Why don’t you just go to a priest for your troubles?”

“I do.”

“Good. It’s been a while since I last went. Just keep doing that and you should be fine.”

“But the priest said I need to make friends.”

“You’re going to have to look for a different friend. I’m not available for friendships.”

Mouths open in the eyes that bite at Rossoro until one devours him and takes him into a dark room. There he sees nothing but darkness. That is until he can see a dark smiling face in the distance.

“What’s the matter? What are you afraid of? Is there something wrong with me?”

“No. No, there’s nothing wrong with you.”

“Do you just not want to be my friend? Do you already have so many that you can’t fit in another?”

A voice from the darkness chants, “Liar, liar, liar.” Repeatedly. “Liar, liar, liar.”

“I’m not a liar!”

“I didn’t say you were, Rossoro. What are you seeing and hearing?”

“Liar, liar, liar,” Rossoro keeps repeating in a fetal position.

As Rossoro lays on Fresco’s couch, he begins to realize something.

“I get it now. What you’ve been seeing in me is your reflection,” Fresco figures out, “I may be a liar, but so are you. You’ve been faking your career as a helper and you don’t want to confess.”

“I’ve been trying not to be a liar, but that’s all that I’m good at. I lied to my family. I lied to my friends. I lied to the priests. I lied to God. I lied to you. Just like you, I built my life off lies because that’s all I’m good at.”

“That’s not true. You bring the guys in our fraternity hope and sound advice. It’s why I wanted to be your friend. Maybe God brought us together since we’re both liars. We can use both of our experiences to help improve one another. You don’t have to live your life as a liar. I can help you.”

“You can?”

“Yes. Together we can make each other stronger and better people. What do you say?”

“You won’t tell anyone in the fraternity my secret?”

“No, but you will have to go to confession.”

“Okay. That’s fair.”

“So, can we be friends?”

“…yeah. We can be friends.”

When Rossoro’s vision clears, he sees Fresco’s smiling face, green clothes, and his hand out. Rossoro takes his hand, embraces him, and begins to cry.

Rossoro tries to hold back his tears as he says, “You know, you should be the leader in the group because you’ve really helped me out.”

“I can help you, but you’re the real leader. God put you in that role for a reason.”

“Right. I guess I should act like a real leader then.”

“Yes, but first, do you want some coffee and dessert? We’ve hardly touched them.”

“Yeah. I’d like some.”

Fresco and Rossoro talk to each other about their vices, ways to overcome them, and their personal lives as they enjoy their time together. They then bring their advice and experiences to the fraternity where they help the men in their daily struggles together.

The End